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Enlarge ImageRequest to buy this photoChris Stewart | Dayton Daily NewsOlentangy Liberty’s Peter Smith, right, and Mason’s Angel Tramontin compete through the rain in a Division I state semifinal.

Thursday November 7, 2013 5:29 AM

Defending champion Olentangy Liberty was hoping for a repeat of last year’s Division I state
semifinal game against Mason. The Comets, however, flipped the script.

The Comets scored a goal five minutes into the game and shut down the Patriots offense in a 1-0
victory last night at Centerville.

Liberty (17-4-1), which defeated Mason (21-0-1) 1-0 last year, was making its third straight
final four appearance, but with a lineup that featured nine different starters. Mason, on the other
hand, returned eight starters, and its experience paid off.

“I was really impressed with how organized and physical they were defensively,” Liberty coach
Rick Collins said.

Mason’s early goal was on a ball served to Jack Clark, who dribbled past two defenders and took
a shot on the left side past goalkeeper Sam Nelson.

“He’s a quick player, and he caught us on our heels,” Collins said.

It was one of only five shots on goal for the Comets, but two more than Liberty, which aimed to
play Mason up the middle offensively in the first half.

“We usually try to find target players, like Donny (Deep) and Grant (Fisher), but they were
cutting the ball off,” Collins said.

The Patriots tried to spread the ball more in the second half and approached from the outside,
which generated more scoring opportunities but few shots on goal.

Deep received a volley in the penalty box with some space, but his shot sailed over the net.
Anthony DeNoi later tried to score on a header, but his momentum carried him backward and the ball
went directly to goalie Spencer Parrish.

Mason will play Mentor in the state final at 7 p.m. Saturday at Crew Stadium.

“They really shut us down,” Collins said. “I’d be surprised if they don’t win it all.”